Guimbal Wind Energy Corp. (GWEC) plans to invest up to P14.36 billion in investment for a proposed 200-megawatt (MW) onshore wind power project in Iloilo province.
Documents submitted to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources showed that the GWEC project would be constructed within an 11,097-hectare area covering the municipalities of Guimbal, Igbaras, Tubungan and Tigbauan.
The site will accommodate 33 wind turbine generators, each with a capacity of 9 MW. The remaining area will be used for access roads and navigational corridors.
The company plans to develop the project in up to two phases, aiming to meet the country’s growing electricity demand and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. GWEC’s goal is to help the Philippines achieve energy self-sufficiency and transition to a low-carbon emission economy.
To finalize the preliminary design, two meteorological (met) towers are being installed in Guimbal to collect at least a year’s worth of data. As of April 2025, one met mast has been installed in Barangay Calampitao, with construction starting in January 2025. Installation of the second mast in Barangay Bacong is in progress.
A desktop study and field survey determined the site’s capacity. According to the company, Vortex mesoscale wind maps with a 1-kilometer resolution showed an annual average wind speed of 7.0 to 8.0 meters per second (m/s) at an indicative turbine height of 120 meters. Sites with an average wind speed of at least 7 m/s are considered economically viable for wind farms.
Construction is slated to begin in 2027, with commercial operations expected by December 2028. The project is expected to employ about 600 workers for a period of 20-28 months.
The initial construction cost, estimated at P14.36 billion, covers the supply, installation, and development of the entire project, including groundworks, turbine erection, and the construction of substations, a switching station, and access roads.
The project falls under a wind energy service contract (WESC) signed with the Department of Energy (DOE) in July 2023.
